KZN Invest 12 by famouspublishing

KZN M A RC H 2 0 2 1

INVEST

Tourism

How the hospitality industry staves off catastrophy

CONNECT COMMUNICATE COLLABORATE

Advertising

Chris the curious and his bid to stay nimble in a fast changing space

Packaging

Sean Kirkham is back – and ready to shake things up

ISSUE 12

Florida Road

New development puts further shine on a grand old dame

Terrific Timber FORESTRY SPECIAL

TO THE PROVINCE

SECTORS AGRICULTURE/ BUSINESS SERVICES/ MANUFACTURING/ ENERGY AND WATER/ MINING AND BENEFICIATION/ TOURISM AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

KNOWLEDGE IS THE POWER

20% OF EMPLOYMENT

SELECT THE RIGHT PARTNER AND LOCATION

THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR CONTRIBUTES

Trade & Investment KwaZuluNatal is a South African trade and inward investment promotion agency (IPA), established to promote the province of KwaZulu-Natal as an investment destination and to facilitate trade by assisting local companies to access international markets.

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TIKZN

Trade & Investment House, 1 Arundel Close Kingsmead Oﬃce Park, Durban, 4001, South Africa +27 (0) 31 368 9600 info@tikzn.co.za

YOUR KNOWLEDGE PARTNER IN BUSINESS PUTTING KZN ON THE MAP Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal plays an instrumental role in promoting the province as the premier investment destination through promotion and packaging of investment opportunities, as well as providing professional expertise to potential international and local investors.

KWAZULU-NATAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES 2019 – 2021

SOUTH AFRICA KWAZULU-NATAL

29° 0’ 0” S, 31° 0’ 0” E

Tasked with sustainable growth in KwaZulu-Natal for the benefit of all its citizens, Trade & Investment KwaZuluNatal’s main responsibility is to enhance sector and industrial development through trade, investment and exports. The strategically-located province is a catalyst for global trade and a portal between KwaZulu-Natal and the world.

www.tikzn.co.za

GROWING THE PROVINCE THROUGH INVESTMENT With two of the hemisphere’s largest and busiest ports within its border, locally acclaimed attractions which enjoy an all-yearround idyllic climate, a magnificent coastline, heritage sites steeped in rich culture and the African township experience which has emerged strongly; KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism sector is the main contributor to the local economy. Not only is KwaZulu-Natal’s year-round sub-tropical climate a major attraction, but investment has come in a variety of guises, inclusive of Durban’s Point Waterfront Development, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping, the development of Umhlanga Ridge, La Lucia Office Park, Suncoast Casino, Sibaya Casino, the Liberty Midlands Mall and Dube TradePort, these are considered to be some of South Africa’s top 10 investment opportunities.

As the only facility in Africa that combines an international airport, a dedicated cargo terminal, warehousing, offices, retail, hotels and agriculture, Dube TradePort has stimulated growth and investments in surrounding areas. All these constitute investments of R1 billion or more, with investment opportunities such as the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, offering potential investments in excess of R12 billion. The ideal position to be the trade gateway to Africa, KwaZuluNatal enjoys a large labour pool, competitive land and building costs, world-class transport and telecommunications infrastructure, and diverse cultures.

A WORLD-CLASS BUSINESS LOCATION A leader in export trade, KwaZulu-Natal engages with various stakeholders involved in international business relations, including intergovernmental agencies such as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Department of Trade and Industry, South African Missions Abroad, Foreign Investment Promotion and International Diplomatic Missions. Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal’s Destination Marketing Unit works closely with various National and Provincial Departments, ensuring KwaZulu-Natal is positioned for direct air access, which is critical in growing KwaZulu-Natal’s economy.

www.tikzn.co.za ISO 9001 Certified

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

KZN

COVER IMAGE: Where forestry and natural ecosystems meet. Picture: Mondi

08 - 06 Guest column

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s CEO, Palesa Phili

- 08 Battered but not broken

Hope for hotel and hospitality industry

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Coffee with Chris Micklewood

- 14 -

The next generation in jar design

Teqal launches first biodegradable jar

EDITOR Greg ArdŽ PRODUCTION EDITOR Lorna King DESIGNER Kyle Griffin ADVERTISING Gaylene Diedericks 081 707 6313 ADVERTISING: SPECIAL PROJECTS Lisa McCallum 083 267 8118 GENERAL MANAGER Doody Adams CONTRIBUTORS Shirley le Guern Matthew Hattingh Shelley Seid Joy Crane

Copyright: All material in this issue is subject to copyright and belongs to Famous Publishing unless otherwise indicated. No part of the material may be quoted, photocopied, reproduced or stored by an electronic system without prior written permission from Famous Publishing. Disclaimer: While every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication, neither the authors nor the publisher will bear any responsibility for the consequences of any actions based on information contained herein. Neither do they endorse any products/services advertised herein. Material which appears under ‘Advertorial’ is paid for.

Chris the curious

INVEST

- 16 -

A deep dive into new waters

Pandemic opens business opportunity

- 21 -

Focus on forestry A 16-page special highlighting the big players behind KZN’s forestry business

Published by Famous Publishing www.famouspublishing.co.za

- 40 -

Great Gorima’s

31 years of adding spice to our lives

- 44 Berea gem promises to sparkle

2SIX2 Florida Road is taking shape

Printed by Novus Print (Pty)

- 46 High street bustles

Experience bespoke shopping at its best at The Arch

- 48 -

Keeping up with Lee Jones

9th Avenue Waterside’s GM chats to us

Salta Estate home The depictions herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.

Sib aya’s new exclusive Dive into a seaside culture that is yet to be introduced into the sought-after Sibaya Coastal Precinct. Brought to you by Devmco Group, Salta Sibaya is perched above Umdloti and offers beautiful sea views. Salta presents spacious, pet-friendly freestanding homes starting from R2,95 million. Enjoy having ever ything within close proximity, from the beach and an onsite shopping centre, to a dynamic corporate office space. Salta Sibaya will set the precedent for how South Africans will live in the future within a vibrant mixed-use community.

L A U N C H I N G

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M A R C H

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+ Gatehouse

Marine Walk Shopping Centre

Green parks

Aerial view of Salta Estate

Business hub

Family adventure zones

Outdoor fitness spaces

+ Onsite shopping centre

Community leisure centres

Clubhouse

The depictions herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

ED’S LETTER

Gentle MANNERS will win the day

dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot. A science fiction writer named Robert Heinlein apparently penned those words and I thought about them watching the antics of Jacob Zuma’s supporters as their beloved leader cocked a snook at the rule of law and the oath he took to uphold democracy. Chief among Zuma’s acolytes is the unlikable Carl Niehaus who said military veterans wouldn’t allow the disgraced former president to be arrested nor for ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule to step aside. I didn’t start out to write a column about politics. I came to reflect on the subject of good manners, or the lack thereof, after my engagement with a top KZN businessman. I will spare you the details, suffice to say it is impolite not to respond to emails and calls. It talks to common courtesy. Most journalists aren’t out to badger or harass. If you are in a leadership position your job comes with a level of public accountability. You are free to engage with journalists or not – but it is contemptuous of anyone in a position of authority to snub the media. The matter with the businessman is small fry, but extrapolated it talks to a culture of bad manners and disrespect that has taken root in South Africa. In my view, comrade Carl and his cronies

gregarde@gmail.com are the worst examples of it. Arguments around radical economic transformation and white monopoly capital in defence of their vile behaviour are thin and morally indefensible. At heart they have no respect for others. They cling to the glory of the struggle against apartheid to prop up their wicked self-enrichment and every decent, rational person sees it for what it is. State capture and all the associated travails might seem overwhelming, but we shouldn’t lose hope. It is forcing everyone

in South Africa to demand greater accountability and transparency in government and private sector. It demands we choose between right and wrong. It demands that we behave civilly. And one last thing before I leave the pulpit: what is with Transnet relocating its head office from Durban to Port Elizabeth? Well done to the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry for calling out the folly and demanding urgent solutions in respect of operational inefficiencies and competitiveness in the Durban port. The Durban Chamber rightly pointed out in a statement that it believed a “more rigorous and transparent approach” should have been employed in determining the location of Transnet’s head office. The same can be said of most decisions involving business, government and organised labour. I hope you enjoy this edition of KZN INVEST. If you want an antidote to the aforementioned misery there is a good chance you will find it in the stories of genuine success and accomplishment that follow. My takeout from most of them is that hard working, enterprising people are carrying on. They may feel like they are wading through treacle, but their resilience, goodwill and gentle manners will see them through.

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MARCH 2021

G U E ST CO LU M N

Remarkable RESILIENCE Genuine partnerships have developed in response to the pandemic. KZN INVEST spoke to Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, Palesa Phili, about business response to the crisis

What has given you the most hope in these troubled times? I hope that this too shall pass, looking at the history of pandemics such as the 1918 Flu Pandemic, as well as HIV and AIDS pandemic and so many other social challenges we have had that were overcome. We are also hopeful given the proposed vaccine roll-out. But the biggest hope is that we are a resilient nation. What has been the best part of your job in the last year? Forging real working partnerships between the business community and government in response to the pandemic; facilitating key strategic engagements between industry and government in the midst of a pandemic; and benchmarking our performance against some of the leading economies while lobbying the government for adaptive lockdown regulations. How has the business community responded to the crisis? Everyone was prepared and ready to lend a hand, from offering donations and skills to assist SMMEs. These skills extended to business members providing ongoing mentorship. There was a genuine assistance offered, including the following:  We partnered with the Domino Foundation and the Global ShapersDurban Hub on a Covid-19 Collaborative Collection Drive to support people unable to earn a living. The response from churches, businesses, individuals, communities, and corporate partners has been incredible.

 We co-ordinated sponsorship from the department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.  We secured 800 soups and 800 juices through the Olive Group and Labora Group.  In partnership with Toyota SA and eThekwini Municipality we distributed food hampers to vulnerable communities in Isipingo.  Through a series of webinars, we partnered with Mancosa to provide free expert advice on a range of important aspects of business management for SMMEs.  More recently donations were

We need government, civil society and the business community to collaborate to make things work made to eThekwini Municipality by members of the Durban Chamber, in particular Prasheen Maharaj, the CEO of South African Shipyards, who is also a board member and chairperson of the Durban Chamber’s manufacturing forum.  SAS donated 1 000 chairs which are assisting with queue control and social distancing at testing sites in 10 malls in the Durban metro.  Paul Swainson, CEO of CCI Call Centres SA and former chairperson of the Durban Chamber’s Northern area forum, contributed 25 000 contact tracing calls to the province free of charge.

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G U E ST CO LU M N

Which sectors are the most resilient and which are taking strain? Tourism is the hardest hit sector due to its heavy reliance on the movement of visitors. The entire value chain from wholesale travel organisers, tour operators, transport, accommodation establishments and other aligned sectors are amongst the sectors taking strain. Healthcare facilities have also been under immense strain. The increased demand for beds and ventilators has been a challenge facing the healthcare sector. All in all, it is remarkable to see how resilient

the ICT, pharmaceutical and food industries have been. What clever strategic thinking have you been exposed to during the crisis and what have you learnt from it? The main thing is that the business community does not operate as an island. We need government, civil society and the business community to collaborate to make things work. All three must work hand in hand for the benefit of all.

BELOW: DURBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CEO, PALESA PHILI: WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

MARCH 2021

How do you see the economy of KZN in 2021 and what three priorities do government, business, labour and civil society need to focus on? Despite the uncertainty and low levels of business activity resulting from lockdown restrictions, we remain optimistic about the recovery. We encourage businesses to innovate. Our three core priorities need to be: • Sector-specific relief for businesses. • Reskilling and replacing lost skills. • Closer consultation between the business community and government.

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

TO U R I S M

oronavirus: “It’s a bloodbath out there.” That’s how one hotel boss described the impact of the pandemic. A week into the new year and the landmark Hilton Durban announced it was closing its doors (but stressed this was temporary), while the Fairmont Zimbali Resort on the North Coast is under business rescue. Across the country, figures are similarly grim. Income from the tourist accommodation industry nationally collapsed in March and April 2020, according to Stats SA surveys. Thereafter the industry tottered to its feet, but by November was still 66,8% down on the same period a year earlier. KZN was better positioned to capitalise on domestic tourists than the other coastal provinces and the festive season in Durban enjoyed a fair start. But it stumbled in late

Coronavirus led to the cancellation of international conferences in the province and that lockdown “impacted greatly on ... hotel occupancy” December when some lockdown rules were reimposed in an effort to stem a second wave of infections. The closing of beaches saw the cancellation of 23% of confirmed accommodation bookings, according to Durban Tourism, who confirmed that in the last two weeks of December 2020, occupancies were around 55%, decreasing to 40 to 45% for the first two weeks of January 2021 due to the advanced level 3 lockdown restrictions. And it wasn’t only numbers of visitors that were down. Spending slipped 20% compared with the previous season. Heather Hunter, chairman of Umhlanga Tourism, said the holiday town’s festive season got into a gallop about mid-December, but government’s announcement, including a ban on the sale of alcohol and a return to an earlier curfew, reined things in sharply. “It’s like a ghost town,” she said in a mid-January interview. “Hotels are running at low occupancy; timeshares aren’t getting timeshares. We’ve got

Battered but not BROKEN It’s been devastating for KZN’s hotel and hospitality industry, but as Matthew Hattingh reports, hoteliers are still hopeful

TO U R I S M

six rooms,” she said of her own B&B. “Three with business people for a week. Business people are still coming. Hopefully that will remain.” The KZN North Coast as far as Amatikulu had been recovering well after the hard lockdown, said Cheryl Peters, the acting manager of the iLembe Economic Development Agency, but had been broadsided by the beach bathing and booze ban. October to November occupancies ranged between 60% and 90% – surpassing 2019. December had started strongly too, topping 90%, she said, but had slumped. “Covid did an about-turn and changed the whole picture,” said Peters. UIF relief for laid-off workers was largely gone and support funding

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

from the national Department of Tourism was limited, she said, speaking before the January 26 announcement of a R1,2-billion Tourism Equity Fund to assist new black entrants into the sector. “We are trying to keep positive and support our industry as much as possible.” The picture for KZN as a whole – a province where tourism in pre-Covid times contributed an estimated 9,5% of GDP – is somewhat anecdotal as KZN Tourism said it did not yet have data for the last quarter of 2020. However, it did provide commentary from Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Ravi Pillay, to whom the tourism body reports. Pillay confirmed what was already widely known: Coronavirus led to the cancellation of international conferences in the province and that lockdown “impacted greatly on ... hotel occupancy”. He said in the latter half of the year, as restrictions eased, there had been “some steady increases” in hotel occupancies, as domestic tourists, in particular, sought relief after being cooped up at home. Amid the gloom there is a little light. Some businesses have proven resilient, while for others the pandemic has hastened a useful process of reorganising. In August the KZNheadquartered ANEW Hotels & Resorts group concluded its acquisition of Fortis Hotels and now manages over 1 000 “keys” and a staff of 900 countrywide. Chief executive Clinton Armour said the process of taking over the management of Fortis properties, in addition to the Ocean Reef Hotel in Zinkwazi late last year, had begun long before the pandemic. But the pressures it brought to bear helped speed up the deal-making. ANEW owns three hotels of its own in KZN. It manages – and in some cases leases – the balance of its 11-property portfolio. Armour told how ANEW had kept all its properties operating – with skeleton staff and only a few rooms open in some cases. This allowed them to cash in when some rivals had shut shop completely. “We were blown away,” he said of September and October bottom-line figures for some of LEFT: RAVI PILLAY, MEC OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS.

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TO U R I S M

their new properties. Brett Gehren, chief executive and co-owner of the privately held Isibindi Africa Lodges, was upbeat too. He said their Thonga Beach Lodge enjoyed its busiest ever Christmas, softening the blow for the group, which has two other lodges in the province in addition to a Zimbabwean property. With the Kosi Bay border post closed for a spell and long delays at the Komatipoort crossing, many tourists abandoned their Mozambique holiday plans in favour of an east coast fix at Thonga Beach. It helped too that Isibindi had slashed its accommodation rates, effective until June 2021. Gehren said they realised early during hard lockdown that they needed to move quickly to attract local tourists. In pre-Covid times foreign guests accounted for 80% of Isibindi business,

Destination management companies and tour operators all seem to think that in the third quarter international travel will start coming back but the discount helped lure locals. Occupancies had averaged about 60% since September, said Gehren. Michael Nel, managing director of Red Carnation Hotels, Southern Africa said they had been booked out for the year-end, but the Covid clampdown led to lots of last-minute cancellations and scuppered new year’s eve parties. About R1-million had already been spent on decor, entertainment, food and drink. Still, Nel was optimistic. The group’s Oyster Box Hotel in uMhlanga did good pre-Christmas trade and remained a special occasion venue. Occupancies for 2020 averaged around 60% (which included the early, pre-Covid part of the year). That’s down on the 80 to 85% of previous years, but under the circumstances, encouraging. “We have been really fortunate. We’ve always had a strong domestic market,” he said. What of the year ahead? “When I talk to the destination management companies and tour operators, we all seem to think that in the third

ABOVE: VICKY WENTZEL, DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN EXPLORER.

quarter international travel will start coming back,” said Nel. Hunter felt guests from their key markets in the UK and Europe would return within six months as these countries got to grips with Covid. “We are now getting bookings from August, September and October from people who cancelled last year – Dutch guests and German. I think it’s because they are going to get the vaccine,” she said. Vicky Wentzel, director of Southern Explorer, an agency which markets a tourism route on the KZN South Coast on behalf of about 150 members, felt the region would boom once lockdown was lifted. Pillay said Tourism KZN would continue to aggressively market the province. “We are confident that as we move to a new era with the subsequent vaccines in the pipeline, that KZN will reclaim its top spot once again.”

The key to achieving success is to assemble a strong and stable crew

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Issue 12

MARCH 2021

A D V E RT I S I N G

hris Micklewood thrives on engaging with entrepreneurs. His curiosity is one of the attributes that has been central to the growth of the advertising agency he directs. Seven years ago, uMhlanga based Coffee Creative was started by four graduates fresh out of brand and advertising school Vega. Two of the original founders include the current digital director Scott Smith and Micklewood’s wife, Chelsea. Now the husband-and-wife duo and partner Scott Smith steer an agency that has 20 staff and boasts an enviable client list that includes Spar, The Dolphins, Medshield Medical Scheme, and a clutch of overseas companies like an American-based recruitment agency, MSI, Miami Summer Camp, the UK-based Sloth Conservation Foundation, and a cosmetics business in Australia. In the agency’s relatively short life it has serviced over 500 clients and nurtured a pool of talent, mainly in the online space. The growth has been down to a productive partnership and Micklewood’s smarts and understated appeal. At school he was an unwitting sports star. He went to Westville Boys’ High and though he says he wasn’t especially enthusiastic about rugby, he had a knack for it and spent five years after school playing club rugby in England, France and South Africa. A talented back, he learnt to read the game – which advanced him on and off the field. After he got his commerce degree, he and a friend developed a strategy to help companies create online presence. Their web development business was soon a natural fit with Chelsea and Scott, and the new agency outgrew the garage they were operating from. Coffee Creative Studio’s pitch is simple: in the digital world, first impressions count. “So, we pull out all the stops to create websites, brands and digital strategies that best represent clients to their audiences and encourage business.” Micklewood says they service start-ups and larger corporates, tailoring the offering to suit the budget and the unique needs of each client. As Coffee Creative Studio grew it

Chris the CURIOUS The vibrancy of the advertising industry is sometimes a gauge of the local economy. If the success of Coffee Creative Studio is an indicator, KZN has legs developed more skills and capacity. While web development is the firm’s unique selling point, its offering now includes social media management, video production and podcast capabilities. The range of clients and the problem solving required for each has kept the agency dynamic. “We are curious by nature,” says Micklewood, “but the business and the engagement with entrepreneurs keeps a constant flow of ideas. We are often launching brands and providing an e-commerce platform for them. This demands we add value, so our clients and their

ABOVE: CHRIS AND CHELSEA MICKLEWOOD – HUSBAND-AND-WIFE DUO IN CHARGE AT COFFEE CREATIVE STUDIO.

needs keep us relevant.” Micklewood says Coffee Creative Studio’s challenge has been to grow to be able to service big clients but remain nimble and responsive to entrepreneurial culture. “It is down to relationship and attitude. If we can work collaboratively, we can understand a client and their unique needs and execute strategies to grab audiences.”

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

PA C K A G I N G

The next generation in jar DESIGN Teqal, which produces packaging for the cosmetics and personal care industries, has not only launched South Africa’s first biodegradable jar, but also netted a R50-million loan from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to expand its factory at the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone, writes Shirley le Guern

eqal started as a greenfields business four years ago in a mini-factory in the Dube TradeHouse with a “cherry picked” team and R39-million worth of some of the world’s most energyand production-efficient packaging machinery. It has expanded three times since start-up and is now planning a new 250m² factory and a move to DTP’s TradeZone 1. Sean Kirkham is Teqal’s sales and marketing director and his 20 years’ experience in the cosmetics, pharma and medical packaging industry is

“Not only is this product completely biodegradable, it is 30% lighter than its closest competitor and uses 60% less energy to manufacture” central to the company’s success story. He says so-called sustainable packaging solutions have traditionally been too expensive and out of reach of local cosmetics producers. But last year Teqal changed that with the launch of its “Reflections” jar which is 70% biodegradable and 100% recyclable. Kirkham believes this will be an important stepping-stone for local skincare and beauty brands that

Issue 12 MARCH 2021

PA C K A G I N G

are embracing sustainability. The external components of the jar are biodegradable and made from plant-based material sustainably sourced from industrial wood applications, while the internal portion is produced from HDPE which has already been stability tested for the packaging of creams. This means a manufacturer that has, up until now used environmentally unfriendly packaging, can switch to the new 70% biodegradable jar without any risk. In 2018 Teqal registered a patent for an in-mould labelled jar that provides the look of a shrink sleeve but without the associated cost, application and recycling challenges. Extra time available during the Covid-19 hard lockdown enabled the company to fine-tune its design and fast track production of the 500ml jar and cap which Kirkham now describes as “the next generation in jar design”. The step which traditionally holds the in-mould label in place has been removed from the side of the jar. This enables full coverage of the surface of the jar and means cosmetic brands can decorate the full height of the

LEFT: SEAN KIRKHAM – SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR OF PACKAGING COMPANY TEQAL – RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS “REFLECTIONS” JAR (ABOVE) WHICH IS 70% BIODEGRADABLE AND 100% RECYCLABLE.

jar. A satin-finished polypropylene substrate gives the jar a soft satiny surface, at the same time promoting 100% recyclability. Kirkham said that combining the decoration and moulding processes cut total product cost and eliminated

post-handling complications. It also reduced the high scrap rates for labels. A second update to the jar design created a lid with a dimple in the centre that can “nest”, allowing for easy stacking of products on retail shelves. But the major attraction remained sustainability with the cosmetics industry, regarded as a major contributor to the plastic waste crisis globally – accounting for an estimated 120-plus billion units of packaging every year. The majority of this cannot be recycled. Kirkham says the only way to change the impact of plastic on the environment is at product level with uptake of a biodegradable solution likely to make a meaningful difference. “Not only is this product completely biodegradable, it is 30% lighter than its closest competitor and uses 60% less energy to manufacture – all of which adds to reducing its carbon footprint. (What we are saying about) our cosmetics packaging is not green washing. This is not about making people feel good. It is 100% compostable and has no microplastics.”

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Issue 12

MARCH 2021

M A N U FA C T U R I N G

A deep dive into new WATERS The Covid-19 pandemic has opened doors to some unexpected business challenges, writes Shirley le Guern

t was a short paddle from manufacturing high-end scuba equipment to producing masks and ventilator components in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, but owner and director of Endless Summer Technologies, Rhys Couzyn, says a dash of luck, flexibility and hard work has enabled the company to navigate the unexpectedly bleak period. Speaking from his 2 500m² production facility at Dube TradePort – complete with its sparkling blue dive pool – Couzyn says he only experienced a single day of true lockdown as the company swivelled into Covid-related projects. “I haven’t worked quite that hard in a very long time. Some days we started at 5am and worked until midnight. It was pretty intense.” Couzyn says he wanted to dive since childhood and, after spending a year in the navy, completed a dive instructor’s course before beginning his B Comm studies. While studying, he taught diving. After getting his family to start diving, they spotted a gap in the market to import and distribute top-notch American brand SCUBAPRO products in South Africa. Couzyn ran the family business, Scuba Equipment Africa, with his mother from 1995. While growing

this company, he also invented a new dive fin. Unfortunately, it didn’t really take off so he set up Endless Summer Technologies in 2005 as a sideline business to develop and produce the product which went on to win

Endless Summer also got involved with the National Ventilator Project, designing and producing parts able to convert masks for ventilator use multiple awards and is now exported worldwide. He has since developed new products, including more awardwinning fins, buoyancy compensators and dive accessories. Endless Summer Technologies started in a garden shed in

Johannesburg but, 14 years ago moved to KwaZulu-Natal and increased its staff from one to 70. Today, 99% of his output is exported with the bulk going to the United States and Europe. Couzyn believes that, over time, more and more opportunities have emerged in export markets simply because many first-world countries were seduced by the cheaper prices offered by Asian manufacturers and gave up developing and manufacturing their own products. “We ended up with a massive gap for companies like us who can invent, design and manufacture a niche product,” he said. Couzyn moved his business to Dube TradePort in November 2017 and hasn’t looked back. Even when it seemed that lockdown spelled an end to the exponential growth of recent years with cancelled, reduced or delayed export orders, there were opportunities. Because he was known for providing dive gear, as Covid hit, Couzyn began receiving calls from people looking for full face snorkelling masks to be used with viral filters as Personal Protective Equipment. He stepped in to help import and modify these masks for medical use and then also fast-tracked the development of a reusable face mask for the man in the street. The result was the Sola Nautilus mask, which has since been replaced by the second-generation model, the Sola Guardian. “Because medical and other frontline workers were having to wear PPE for eight hours or more a day, every day, we realised there was a need for more user-friendly and environmentally-friendly masks. “Our reusable masks are more effective and functional and also deal with some of the irritations associated with wearing a mask for long periods such as the fogging of glasses.” Couzyn also got involved with the National Ventilator Project, designing and producing parts able to convert masks for ventilator use. He now supplies the CSIR with adaptors, connectors, manifolds and valves for their ventilators. Many of these products have traditionally been imported, but are now made locally.

M A N U FA C T U R I N G

As mask and medical orders streamed in, export orders for scuba equipment surprisingly began to return as the European and American sports goods market bounced back far more quickly than anticipated. He not only had to bring back his production team to BELOW: ADAPTING TO THE COVID CRISIS, RHYS COUZYN, OWNER OF ENDLESS SUMMER TECHNOLOGIES, HAS MODIFIED HIS SNORKELLING MASKS FOR MEDICAL USE.

“I haven’t worked quite that hard in a very long time. Some days we started at 5am and worked until midnight. It was pretty intense”

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meet demand, but also employed more people. Couzyn is confident he will not only exit the Covid storm with a new product line, but also have the ability to grow his dive related business. Ultimately, he also hopes that, as travel restrictions have forced people to holiday locally and explore new leisure activities, the small dive industry in South Africa might just grow too.

VISIT DURBAN

DURBAN IS READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY BREAK A MEMORABLE ONE, WITH NUMEROUS APPEALING TOURISM AND LEISURE OPTIONS IN AND AROUND THE CITY.

Here’s how to make the most of your Durban holiday experience:  Just add water. A visit to this coastal city would be incomplete without an aquatic adventure of some kind. Take

E info@visitdurban.travel

in Durban’s spectacular beaches and southern Africa’s longest beachfront promenade. Enjoy a day out at the dam with your loved ones, either relaxing with a picnic or trying out some of the watersports on offer. Visit an array of water parks for wet and wonderful fun or go on an ocean adventure that brings you face to snout with the creatures of the deep – from dolphin shows and whale watching, to snorkelling, deep sea diving and more.

 Get outdoors. Be an explorer and venture out to Durban’s many outdoor destinations. Sample the city’s fresh air, wide open spaces, great weather and stunning nature and wildlife areas – from Phezulu Safari Park and Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park in the west to Sugar Rush Park on the North Coast.  Max out on adventure. Durban has activities to suit just about every taste – from adrenaline pumping thrills like shark diving and skydiving, to more

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tranquil options like hot air balloon trips and horse rides.  Get your retail fix. As a shopper’s paradise, Durban boasts a large variety of world-class malls, boutique retail outlets, outdoor strip malls and markets with stringent measures in place to keep you safe while you shop till you drop.  Walk away with a creative masterpiece. For a rich tapestry of creations from the city’s talented creatives and makers, be sure to visit  www.visitdurban.travel

Durban’s wide variety of museums and art galleries. Here, you can acquire the stunning handiwork of some of Durban’s talented emerging or established local artists.  Enjoy an unforgettable coastal culinary experience. Durban offers an array of mouth-watering cuisine that sets it apart from any other city in South Africa. Wherever you are – North Coast, South Coast, central or west of the city, there are restaurants with the

space and comfort you need to enjoy a meal with peace of mind. So, if you’re keen for some safe and enjoyable days out in Durban, then don your masks, sanitise and respect the curfew. Let’s all Rediscover Durban safely while observing all Covid-19 protocols. For more info visit: www.visitdurban.travel or follow @DBNTourism across all social media platforms

@dbntourism

PAPER IS

MADE FROM

WOOD RENEWABLE. RECYCLABLE.

REMARKABLE.

www.thepaperstory.co.za @paperrocksza

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Trumpeting TIMBER

n a nursery in the Midlands a field worker cradles a seedling in her hand. It will be planted in a forest nearby where a farmer inspects a pile of cut logs. Neither of them will probably ever visit the laboratory far away where scientists hover over microscopes looking at the very wood fibre they produce. None of them may ever meet the engineers in factories who run huge boilers that pulp the same fibres. They might not meet the men and women around the world who use their wood to produce a multitude of products from writing paper to packaging to pharmaceutical products. All of the aforementioned people are perhaps largely unknown to one another and certainly to the average consumer, but they are all part of the vibrant forestry, pulp and paper value chain that is so important to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. In this edition we have assembled a group of stories that attempt to

The forestry, pulp and paper sector is a massive contributor to the KZN economy, but few people appreciate its size and scale show how important the industry is to the province. Of prime importance is the size and scale of the industry – accounting for 72 000 jobs in KZN and R48-billion in annual exports from South Africa, much of it from KZN. The sector constitutes 3% of KZN’s gross geographic product or R16-billion in gross value of output, according to industry experts. On their own the behemoths of the business – Mondi and Sappi – have invested in or are in the process of pumping R15-billion into KwaZuluNatal. The industry demands a high level of technical expertise and is the product of over 100 years of

investment in science and engineering. The big guns rely on hundreds, if not thousands of supplier firms which in turn have scaled up over the years to fit into a sophisticated and evolving global business. The sector has a profound influence on the province – especially in the rural communities where the forests grow. Attention to upliftment and conservation is critical. Sappi, Mondi and other big companies in the sector seem seized with issues of sustainability, and rightly so, as public commitments are key to accountability. Another characteristic of the sector is collaboration. Over a century ago farmers in the Midlands formed a forestry co-operative that still exists today. This is one of a handful of wellresourced industry bodies that invest time and vast resources in information sharing and research and development. It is illustrative of deep institutional wisdom that should be harnessed for the benefit of everyone in the value chain.

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Masterplan opens doors for INVESTMENT The masterplan to revitalise the forestry, pulp and paper, sawn timber, board products and utility poles and treated products industries, received the stamp of approval in September last year. It is, writes Joy Crane, a huge business that has to be nurtured

he forestry sector contributes almost 25% to South Africa’s agricultural GDP, and with its contribution of 4,5% to total manufacturing, forestry products rank among the top five contributors within manufacturing. In less than 10 years, export earnings have almost trebled, with the sector providing a positive trade balance of close to R10-billion. The Master Plan for the Commercial Forestry Sector in South Africa 2020 – 2025, is a high-level action plan and is just one of several diverse sector masterplans initiated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

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)

EA AR

The plans encourage sector growth, investment, job creation and competitiveness. From the government’s point of view, it is a re-imagined industrial strategy for South Africa. Thanks to its catalytic role and impact on the national and rural economies, the forestry value-chain is also prioritised under the PublicPrivate Growth Initiative that reports to President

OT AL

TOTAL KZN LAND

In this case, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries is the lead department with oversight over the masterplan and its implementation. Further down the value chain, the government and the South African Furniture Initiative are finalising the Furniture Industry Masterplan for implementation from March 2021.

N H A / (5,3% OF T

M ,1

IO ILL

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Land Use in KwaZulu-Natal  GRAZING 58,3%  ARABLE 12,9%  NATURE CONSERVATION 15,1%  OTHER 8,5%  FORESTRY 5,3% (484 296 ha) Cyril Ramaphosa. Michael Peter, the executive director of Forestry South Africa, is a member of the initiative. He says that “through consistent attention to the process, we were able to ensure that the masterplan has at its core, the same commitments of both the public and private sectors.” Industry participants involved include forestry players, Sawmilling South Africa, the South African Wood Preservers Association, and the Paper Manufacturing Association of South Africa. The goal is “to increase investment, jobs and competitiveness, underpinned by greater inclusivity in the forestry sector”. The plan identifies seven key focus areas: Expanded forestry resource and maintenance/ protection. Transformation. Processing. Illegal timber and crimerelated activities. Research, development, innovation and skills development.

Key inhibitors. Institutional development. The standout constraint is the lack of new afforestation and the need to remove the impediments to bringing more land under commercial forests. Investments and growth in the sector will not happen without afforestation. The plan also comments that the pulp and paper industry with its two dominant, listed companies, Sappi and Mondi, far outweigh the other subsectors. “These vertically integrated companies impact the entire value chain. It will be their actions that will significantly affect the achievement of the goal and targets agreed for the masterplan.” There are governance and institutional arrangements and capacity to implement and measure and evaluate effectiveness of the plan. Successful delivery also requires sufficient budget commitments from the government and business in a time of severe Covid-19 financial constraints.

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he forestry sector supports some 700 000 livelihoods – mostly in the rural space. Consider this and it becomes apparent why it was recently prioritised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under the Public Private Growth Initiative in support of the Re-imagined Industrial Strategy for South Africa. At Sappi we fully support and will drive the implementation of the Forestry Sector Master Plan, which is comprehensive yet practical, and has been formulated by forestry industry partners in conjunction with relevant government departments. We are greatly encouraged by the work that is being done at all levels with the overall aim of achieving greater inclusivity in the forestry sector through increased investment and jobs, as well as greater competitiveness. As a company we have made it our business to build a thriving world by unlocking the power of trees, and we are able to do this for the benefit of the people we employ, for the communities where we operate, and for the planet we inhabit. We realise we can only do this if sustainability is at the core of everything we do. To help build the biobased, circular economy we are striving for – where sustainable wood fibre alternatives replace the fossil-based materials used for everyday products – begins with us promoting and adhering to responsible forestry practices. No better example of this exists than when we recently achieved PEFC endorsed SAFAS (Sustainable African Forest Assurance Scheme) certification, the

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The power of TREES Despite earning a positive trade balance of close to R10-billion in less than 10 years, forestry as a sector is often overlooked despite contributing an impressive 25% to South Africa’s agricultural GDP, writes Duane Roothman, Vice-President, Sappi Forests first company in South Africa to do so. The SAFAS project began way back in 2015 as an industry collaboration when the need to develop a local certification standard with international recognition, was realised. Being part of the team developing the PEFC SAFAS value-based platform approach for sustainable forest management and certification, meant that Sappi had already

“To thrive as a business, we need to embrace the future and respond to the global forces that continue to shape our world,” says Duane Roothman, Vice-President of Sappi Forests

implemented this structured, yet flexible approach through its internal audits as far back as 2019. Read more about the full process that was followed at https://bit. ly/3j6Lc0M. Although Sappi already provides customers the assurance that its wood fibre originates from known and responsibly managed forests – including through its longstanding certification with the Forest

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ABOVE: DUANE ROOTHMAN, VICE-PRESIDENT OF SAPPI FORESTS.

Stewardship Council – the PEFC certification provides an additional important global certification standard in its assurance to consumers about the responsible origin of the wood we use. Importantly, it also allows for chain of custody certification, which tracks forest-based products from sustainable sources to the final product. The relevance of this SAFAS standard is that it is locally developed making sure that it considers the

country’s operational and cultural conditions; and ultimately making it more accessible to all forest owners, particularly smallholders. This is important to Sappi, as we support some 3 600 small growers through our Sappi Khulisa programme, as well as about 100 small, medium and micro enterprises who are involved in silviculture, harvesting, loading, shortand long-haul activities. Since 1995, 4,5-million

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tons valued at R2,7-billion has been purchased from small growers under this programme. Assisting them in getting certification is another of our goals, and we do this through ongoing training, education and mentoring through our staff of Sappi Khulisa foresters and our Sappi Ulwazi training programme. Aligning with the Forestry Sector Master Plan is therefore just a continuation of how we ensure we create shared value throughout the forestry value chain. With most of our forestry operations being rurally based, we make a significant contribution to rural economies and social wellbeing, and work actively in pursuing those opportunities that offer investment growth, while collaborating on overcoming the barriers to success. In a world that is continuously warming, with increasingly scarce

F O C U S O N F O R E ST R Y

As a company we have made it our business to build a thriving world by unlocking the power of trees … for the benefit of the people we employ, for the communities where we operate, and for the planet we inhabit resources, we believe that the forestry value chain offers sustainable solutions for many participants. This is why we work tirelessly to increase our timber yield, to find ways to become more competitive, by increasing enterprise development and procurement opportunities,

by lobbying for new afforestation, for returning currently unproductive plantation land back to production, by investing in R&D for the protection of plantations from pests and diseases, and for encouraging agroforestry as a tool for the overall

sustainability of small and community-based growers. Our investment in commercial forestry has a direct positive impact on protecting biodiversity and natural forests of high conservation value, as we maintain about one-third of our land to conserve the natural habitat and maintain seven proclaimed nature reserves and about 160 important conservation areas on our land. Our success hinges on our ability to continue unlocking the power of our renewable resources responsibly and sustainably. To thrive as a business, we need to embrace the future and respond to the global forces that continue to shape our world. We intend doing so and to have an exciting future in wood fibre, by providing relevant solutions for customers and consumers, and by being a trusted partner to our stakeholders.

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10 Forestry facts 93% of the countryÕs total plantation area Forestry South Africa represents 11 corporate forestry companies, 1 100 commercial timber farmers and 20 000 small-scale growers who collectively control 93% of the country’s total plantation area of 1,2-million hectares.

R38,4-billion Forestry products have an export value of over R38,4-billion.

Employs more than 149 000

Indigenous forests cover 500 000 hectares, or 0,4% of South Africa’s land cover.

3% of the countryÕs available water Timber plantations are not irrigated but use 3% of the country’s available water. Mining uses 3%. Industry uses 3%. Power generation uses 2%. Agriculture uses 60%. Domestic consumption accounts for 29%.

ga an al

20%

South Africa’s forest industry is responsible for 9,8% of the country’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 4,9% of South Africa’s manufacturing GDP.

K ZN

500 000 hectares

50% Mp um

The sector employs more than 149 000 people and supports over 500 000 South Africans.

4,9% of the

Commercial forests account for 1% of South Africa’s land cover.

300 000 hectares of natural ecosystems

30% of forestry-owned land remains unplanted which, when well managed, allows for the conservation of natural ecosystems covering 300 000 hectares.

pine, eucalyptus & wattle ttle. tus and wa eucalyp , e n i p p of ade u inly m a m re ms a r far e b im SA t

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A big IMPACT business Mondi – a leading global packaging and paper group with a focus on being sustainable by design – is contributing to a better world by making innovative solutions using paper where possible, plastic when useful

e are determined to make a difference and recently launched Mondi Action Plan 2030 which maps the actions we will take over the next decade to meet our ambitious sustainability goals by delivering circular driven solutions, created by empowered people, taking action on climate. All areas are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development goals. Andrew King, Mondi Group CEO, says sustainability is at the heart of Mondi’s purpose, strategy and culture. “We operate in diverse and complex geographies and as a business that is fully integrated throughout

ABOVE: Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa.

the supply chain, I am excited by the potential to make a real difference with our new 2030 commitments touching every part of our business. Delivering on these focus areas, working with our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners to make a positive contribution to a better world, will be a top priority for Mondi.” More broadly, Mondi Group’s strategy is to deliver value growth sustainably by focusing performance along the value chain; investing in assets, inspiring its people to grow responsibly and partnering with customers for innovation. Mondi’s South African business sustainably manages 254 000 hectares of plantation forests and manufactures and sells pulp, virgin containerboard and uncoated fine paper products. About 1 500

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employees work in the forestry operations and the two mills located in Richards Bay and Merebank, Durban. Mondi South Africa is at the forefront of sustainable business practices. Viv McMenamin, CEO Mondi South Africa says it is exciting to play a lead role in Mondi’s sustainability story. “There are so many areas I am proud of, but three stand out for me. The work we are doing to reduce our water impact – from growing trees that use less water, to protecting water catchment areas and wetlands through our work with partners, to using significantly less water in our operations. Second is the progress we have made in becoming a diverse and inclusive workplace where people can grow to their full potential and contribute to our success. And thirdly, of course, our globally competitive

operations that produce high-quality fully-recyclable products from sustainably sourced fibre.” In support of this, Mondi confirmed that it would be investing R8-billion in its domestic operations over five years, which includes ongoing investment in its forestry assets and the modernisation of pulp, containerboard and paper assets. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mondi has addressed the challenge of ensuring the health and safety of our employees and their families. We also recognise the importance of business continuity and serving our customers, as well as the support that is needed to sustain our communities. We provided frontline healthcare workers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic with a donation of 100 000 FFP3/N95 medical-grade masks at a cost of just under R10-million. Fourteen mobile-health clinics and 48 further health facilities

received a range of medical supplies including masks, sanitisers and digital thermometers. Through our partnerships we were able to offer an online eLearning platform to rural high school maths and science students who could download and take their study material home for free. Through Mondi Zimele – the small business development organisation of Mondi South Africa – the business intensified Covid-19 assistance to small businesses and accelerated its food security programme. In support of our sustainable business philosophy, we place a significant focus on transformation and inclusive growth. Mondi Zimele, established in 2007, provides equity, loans and business development support to employment creating small businesses within the Mondi value chain and surrounding communities. Since 2012, Mondi

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Zimele has provided in the region of R100-million in loan funding to assist over 200 local businesses in creating more than 2 800 jobs. The Mondi Zimele and Department of Trade and Industry Forestry Contractor Incubator Programme, successfully developed 23 small forestry contractors, with a focus on growing skills, management capability and improving their operational knowhow. Mondi Zimele’s small-scale timber grower programme has benefitted over 3 200 growers and helped to generate

Mondi Zimele provides equity, loans and business development support to employment creating small businesses within the Mondi value chain and surrounding communities direct revenues of over R120-million. Through this programme Mondi has distributed over 5,6-million seedlings and to date sourced approximately 426 000 tonnes of pulpwood timber from small-scale timber growers. We invest significantly in skills and leadership development, offering talented individuals diverse careers as part of a global Group. We are particularly proud of the progress women are making in Mondi South Africa, holding positions such as

F O C U S O N F O R E ST R Y

ABOVE: BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING. BELOW: PAPER ROLLS AT MEREBANK, DURBAN.

artisans, foresters, safety managers, nursery managers, and other roles in engineering and finance. This includes our CEO, CFO, Procurement Director, CEO of Mondi Zimele, and many others. Mondi South Africa has a very well-established approach focused on investing in communities living on our land or near our operations. One pioneering public-private partnership is focused on improving the living conditions of people living in households in isolated villages on and around our forestry land and finding sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty and offer security of tenure. Eight other agri-villages are in progress. Mondi has roots in South Africa and is deeply committed to the country through its ongoing investments in people, assets and communities.

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Wattle WONDERS Shirley le Guern considers the lowdown on the humble wattle tree

he humble wattle tree that arrived from Australia in 1880 is often seen as something of a pest – a thirsty alien invader that threatens biodiversity. The flip side, however, is that this unwelcome immigrant has helped create a highly labour intensive industry that offers significant growth in rural areas where unemployment is high and opportunities for emerging farmers low. Fast growing wattle trees were initially introduced by farmers as shelter for livestock and firewood. But, researchers discovered that the bark of the black wattle, in particular, contained high concentrations of polyphenolic chemicals, better known as tannins, which can be used for softening and curing leather. Later, these same chemicals became essential ingredients for the production of resin products used to make adhesives for the manufacture of particle board, plywood and cardboard as well as water flocculants and speciality products for the chemical, food and beverage sectors. An added bonus is that black wattle also provides

high quality timber that’s ideal for chipping, pulping, building, fencing and making charcoal – another export product in its own right. Today, South Africa is one of the chief exporters of wattle related products. An article published in

In 2015, Chan estimated that timber provided 85% of revenue and bark 15% with the annual combined value of wattle extract from South Africa and Brazil worth about US$100-million and the total value of wattle wood

Timber provided 85% of revenue and bark 15% with the annual combined value of wattle extract from South Africa and Brazil worth about US$100-million and the total value of wattle wood chips worth around US$208-million Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science and penned by Julian Moreno Chan from the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research, places the country alongside Brazil as the world’s chief producer of wattle products.

chips worth around US$208-million. One of local industry’s chief assets is the wellestablished Wattle Research Institute which, together with ongoing research and development from large wattle

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companies, continues to not only improve growing methods but also helps produce a number of new and innovative products. One such company is Greytown based UCL, which produces a large range of products, including speciality leather tanning powders and wattle extracts, which are sold to Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Established in 1924, UCL has grown from a wattle bark milling company to a large-scale enterprise specialising in the manufacture of wattle tannin extracts, sugar and pine lumber. According to UCL, the 130 000 hectares of commercial black wattle is grown by about 2 700 farmers, the majority being small-scale growers. Their factory operates seasonally from September to June and has a capacity of about 63 000 tons of bark per season from which it can manufacture roughly 18 000 tons of extract. Sustainable management is critical, says the company. The bark, as well as the timber of the black wattle tree, is a much sought after commodity. For every ton of bark harvested the wattle tree also produces five tons of versatile hardwood timber. The trees are normally felled when they are 10 years old, after which the bark is removed, bundled and dispatched to the extract factory. Another major player in the wattle industry is NCT, a marketing cooperative. Regarded as the largest forestry marketing organisation in southern Africa with a membership of close to 1 800 shareholding members, NCT is an international supplier of quality round wood timber, hardwood pulp and biomass chips.

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NTE processes about 85 000 tons of wattle bark a year in its two factories, producing around 28 500 tons of finished product Then there is NTE, a Pietermaritzburg based company with a colourful 100-year history that has been at the centre of the development of SA’s wattle bark extract industry. In the late 90s, NTE was purchased by private wattle growers, enabling them to directly benefit from processing and marketing of bark extracts. NTE processes about 85 000 tons of wattle bark a year in its

Plants in POTS

Sappi Forests’ nurseries are switching from plastic inserts to paper pots to benefit from a propagation system that produces plants with a better root system and reduces transplant shock

llepot is a Danish company internationally recognised for the quality of plants propagated in its system of cylindrical paper pots, known as Ellepots. The papers degrade and are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited. Shaun Biggs of Ellepot South Africa says the rate of early growth and post-planting survival of seedlings is

an essential criterion in determining a forestry operation’s success. Sappi Forests is in the process of installing an Ellepot propagation system at each of its cutting nurseries with Sappi staff Damien Naidu, the programme leader for Nursery Technologies, and Wynand de Swardt, Sappi’s divisional nurseries manager firmly in control. “We are on a journey of discovery

two factories, producing around 28 500 tons of finished product. According to NTE, potential new markets for wattle bark extract include dust suppressants for the mining industry and water purification applications. “With little room for growth in the leather industry and facing stiff competition from oil-based products in the adhesives market, the NTE team is busy developing new products and new markets. This includes potential new products for the mining industry. Another avenue with potential is using spent bark as biomass to produce energy. Spent bark is already used as fuel in the boilers at our Hermannsburg and Iswepe factories,” says a spokesperson for NTE.

that is enhancing our understanding of propagating plants and opening the door to new logistics opportunities,” says Naidu. Sappi’s investment in research and trials has produced remarkable results. De Swardt says that the adjustments to the propagation environment and the innovative new tray, means Ellepot cuttings leave Clan Nursery in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands up to 20% earlier than those grown in plastic tubes. “This changes everything. The increase in capacity at the nursery directly impacts the process of getting the plants to our customers,” says De Swardt, adding that the plan is for all Sappi’s nurseries to get an Ellepot system because research shows that switching from plastic inserts to paper pots reduces logistics costs. “We are broadening our silviculture focus also to include our holding nurseries so that we fully integrate the entire supply chain. Some logistics cost saving will be offset by

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Silent NATURE Diversification and sustainability has driven global brand Husqvarna to adapt to the future

everaging off its success in the forestry business has allowed global brand Husqvarna to be more than just a chainsaw business in South Africa. This is the word from Pieter Smuts, newly appointed managing director. For decades the company has supported and supplied the forestry sector with equipment, but now Smuts wants to focus on diversification and sustainability. “You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results.”

Challenged by Covid, the company did a 100% sell out of sprayers which were switched from farm use to sanitisation after testing. The move towards light agriculture and a resurgence of emerging farmers – especially in the forestry sector – saw the company focus on value-for-money equipment for newcomers with tighter budgets and different needs to large corporate operations. Smuts firmly believes that investing in emerging farmers across the continent will ensure a positive future. The company is

also appointing local manufacturers to boost the economy and cut down on high import duties. But it’s no easy task as stringent quality checks and international standards associated with the brand need to be followed. When it comes to sustainability, one of the key drivers is the introduction of battery-powered equipment for maintenance at game reserves where guests do not want to

listen to the whine of petrol driven weed eaters, as well as at universities, colleges, schools, parks and by garden services who are rapidly replacing their equipment with quieter alternatives that produce less emissions. The company has adopted the term “silent nature” and has a project that supports farmers and game reserves to revitalise grasslands lost to overgrazing and alien vegetation.

infrastructure spend on centralised holding nursery facilities.” Research on field survival shows that survival gain can be as high as 8%, depending on the site and planting conditions. Results have also shown a significant biomass gain when planting on adverse sites or in adverse conditions. The planting season in KZN’s summer rainfall season is usually between September and March, but foresters are already experimenting with extending the planting season because of the higher chances of survival using Ellepot plants. “We are entering an era where technology is changing the way we plant trees. Our Ellepot papers form a protective layer around the roots, thereby preventing damage during the planting process and allowing the adoption of new mechanised planting technologies,” says Biggs. * LEFT: SHAUN BIGGS OF ELLEPOT WITH NURSERY MANAGER BONGANI SHOZI.

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Paper and the wooden ECONOMY With the world moving into digital overdrive, it is worth noting that paper stores carbon, making it good for the planet

aper has a fascinating history. Developed centuries ago, it has been through the mill – literally and figuratively – in terms of what it’s made from. It also has many interesting side stories: one story about paper that often goes untold is how it actually stores carbon, making it good for the planet. Even when planted

trees are harvested for their wood – for timber construction or for paper, packaging and tissue – the carbon remains locked in the wood fibres, remaining here for the life cycle of those products. This is just one of the reasons paper recycling is important – it keeps the carbon locked up for longer. “To understand why paper and wood products are vital to a lower carbon

By extracting more value from a tree, less goes to waste footprint, we can borrow from Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman’s assertion that trees don’t grow from the ground, they grow from the air,” says Jane Molony, executive

director of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA). Many of us first learnt about photosynthesis in primary school – how plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2) to make food. Trees take in CO2 from the air, and water from the ground – which also comes from the air at some point – and convert this into growth (trunks, roots and leaves). Oxygen is then returned to the atmosphere. This carbon cycle is why trees of all kinds are such a vital part of keeping our planet regulated, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. “In South Africa, trees could be divided into two groups – indigenous trees in natural forests, and commercially and sustainably farmed trees in plantations. The latter were introduced some 100 years ago to protect natural forests, by providing

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farmed wood for productive purposes,” says Molony. Plantation trees are essentially crops that are planted and replanted in rotation, with only 9% of the total tree count being harvested in any given year. This means there are always trees growing – at different stages of maturity – and these trees are contributing to the carbon cycle.

One story about paper that often goes untold is how it actually stores carbon, making it good for the planet New Chapters For Wood As the paper sector finds ways to diversify in the face of digitisation and to respond to reduced demands on printing and writing paper, chemists and chemical engineers are increasingly discovering the wonder of wood. Wood is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose,

chemical conversion into a range of products – it is spun into viscose and lyocell textile fibres for use in fashion and decorating textiles, cast into a film or regenerated into a sponge. Extremely versatile, it can also bind active medicinal

lignin, sugars and extracts. The properties of these elements make them suitable ingredients in countless, low-carbon products. For example, dissolving woodpulp – a purified form of cellulose – is suitable for

CARBON CYCLE CO2

CO2

ingredients or vitamins into palatable tablets, stabilise emulsions or increase viscosity – which is why it’s added to low-fat yogurt and lipstick. Nanocellulose – tiny cellulose nanofibres – can be used in food supplements and edible packaging, or even as a composite for screens on electronic devices. Paper packaging manufacturers are exploring its use in weight reduction for paperboard without compromising strength and performance. The substance can also be applied as a recyclingfriendly barrier coating instead of plastic. By extracting more value from a tree, less goes to waste, Molony notes. “This opens the sector up to make even more meaningful contributions to sustainable product development and the circular economy.” And by growing more trees and making innovative things from them we make our lives better, our jobs easier and our world more sustainable.

Sustainable forestry and forest products and their role in carbon storage

CO2

1.2 million hectares of commercial plantations in South Africa, at various ages and rotations. Approximately 6% of SA’s plantation area is harvested annually. Annual replanting

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Over-mature trees release more CO2 than they absorb and may be more susceptible to threats such as ﬁre, pest and disease. Over-mature trees

Continuous cycle of planting and harvesting ensures that plantations remain 'carbon sinks'

Products made from wood will continue to store carbon

Abiotic and biotic threats to tree health

Process waste and by-products can be beneﬁciated for commercial or own use Sustainable forestry ensures that products made from wood are a renewable, carbon-storing resource

Carbon capture Carbon emission

CO2

Sustainable forestry Partial salvage of disturbed plantations

CO2 Carbon locked up in products (until decay or incineration takes place)

Timber products (longer life span)

Pulp, cellulose and paper products

Carbon sequestration in wood products

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

F O C U S O N F O R E ST R Y

Reducing HARM

SAWPA has become the link between members and the regulating authorities. It disseminates information and attempts to overcome industry problems. SAWPA has also developed practical guidelines for safer practices in industrial wood

SAWPA’s executive director, Bruce Breedt, highlights the functions of the association

he South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA) is a nonprofit association formed in 1980 to promote timber treatment and treated timber products. Commercially grown timber is mainly of the eucalyptus and pinus species, both of which are not durable. By applying the correct chemicals to these timbers, we are able to ensure the timber performs as if it were durable, thereby giving predictable long-life performance.

SAWPA has also developed practical guidelines for safer practices in industrial wood preservation preservation to reduce the exposure of workers to dangerous chemicals and to prevent the release of pollutants into the environment.

RIGHT: BRUCE BREEDT, SAWPA’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

www.sawpa.co.za

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Issue 12

MARCH 2021

ibrant Direct – a nationwide, outdoor media and advertising organisation – began in 1990 focusing on door-todoor media distribution within the KZN area. Today, 31 years later, Vibrant Direct comprises four divisions – Distribution, Activation, Commuter and Outdoor – and is headed up by Managing Member Caroline Dassonville.

A D V E RTO R I A L

Get your message OUT THERE Needing results getting your message into the right hands? Then let the team at Vibrant Direct partner with you to success

DISTRIBUTION

ACTIVATION

OUTDOOR

With more than 110-million pamphlets, brochures and magazines distributed door to door annually, we reach homes and businesses in all suburbs, townships and rural areas. Our demographics – highlighting income groups, race and language – will ensure you target your market without wasting ad spend. Traditional marketing such as printed flyers and brochures are a cost effective and creative marketing tool resulting in continued brand loyalty and retention. A recent study found that brands spend 38,08% of their advertising budgets on traditional advertising. Furthermore, it was found that the sample recorded a strong positive correlation between traditional advertising spend and brand sales (Nunes, 2020).

COMMUTER

Overseeing more than 500 store openings, revamps, activations and roadshows annually, Vibrant Direct can offer promoters – branded with your choice of promotional wear and walk-about banners – to create a “vibe” that results in curiosity and excitement in your offering. Shopping mall events with brand ambassadors or pamphleteers, together with “arrow spinners” pointing potential customers towards your store opening, provide a fun way to create a buzz. “We are also able to help build your market intelligence with branded fieldworkers conducting faceto-face interviews, focus groups or telephone surveys,” says Mike Butcher, Vibrant Directs’ General Manager.

Our mobile billboards and street pole advertising offers date flexibility and creative artwork input to clients needing assistance. Mobile billboards offer full colour, eye level advertising for a catchy outdoor solution that targets local eyes. “Let us handle your next outdoor marketing campaign with a combination of street pole advertising, large format mobile billboards or book one of our billboard sites nationwide,” recommends Darren Nunes, Vibrant Directs’ Marketing Manager. Our “Ads On Wheels” follow carefully chosen routes, parking at strategic points throughout the day driving your brand directly to your target market.

Taxi rank and train station activations are perfect for targeting commuters and shoppers who are on the go. Be seen. Be heard. Be tasted. Get your message out there with flyer handouts within walking distance of your store; opt for megaphone announcements by our branded marketing team – we will announce your store specials and get your message heard; or try our sample campaigns for new products either at store level or directly with commuters, allowing us to interact, inform and educate potential customers.

Unit 5, 5 Papolio Close, DBJ Industrial Park, Cornubia 031 569 1017 // www.vibrantdirect.co.za

PROMOTING THE USE OF PRESERVATIVE TREATED TIMBER

PROMOTING TREATED TIMBER PRODUCED BY SAWPA MEMBERS

Tel: 011 974 1081 admin@sawpa.co.za www.sawpa.co.za

SAWPA Source Book 2020.indd 1

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Issue 12

MARCH 2021

FOOD

Great GORIMA’S In 1980 diminutive dynamo Khatija Mall spiced up Durban by launching Gorima’s. Today it is an iconic KZN speciality spice chain that boasts 21 stores and almost 300 employees, writes Shelley Seid

orima’s began modestly enough with the manufacturing of a single product. “Mrs M” – who also answers to Aunty K, or Ma K – used the recipe given to her by her husband’s aunt as the foundation of her enduringly famous spice paste, Magi Masala. The aunt, Zuleikha Mayat, was the editor of one of South Africa’s best-selling cookbooks, Indian Delights, and the spice was so good that it could turn the least talented cook into a curry connoisseur. But the journey to success was not an easy one. With no money, no equipment and no premises, Mrs M and her husband would buy supplies of chillies, garlic and the like from Clairwood market at the crack of dawn, manufacture the paste in the Mayat’s kitchen, and sell it at flea markets, or even out of the boot of their car. Slowly the business grew. Mrs M brought her brothers and their wives on board, they moved into a small factory, grew the range and began running demos of Gorima’s products up and down the KZN coast. The first store opened in Durban’s iconic Workshop Shopping Centre in 1986.

“I’ve been involved in this business since I was four years old,” says Mrs M’s nephew, Arshad Moola. “I grew up in Johannesburg but we spent every holiday in Durban at our granny’s house. One of my earliest memories is standing in the kitchen, at age seven, putting caps on bottles of spices.” Today Arshad Moola is the director of Gorima’s, and manages the business together with his brother, Yunus, and cousin, Feroz Khan. “We grew up with the

Over the last 10 years they have noticed a shift to convenience, especially during holidays like Eid and Diwali business,” Moola says. “As soon as our counting skills were good enough, we would help the cashiers. As soon as we could drive we would

help with deliveries. As we built our skills, so our responsibilities increased.” The ethos and culture of Gorima’s is in his blood, he says. “If you prick me, you’ll get chilli powder.” On a more serious note, Moola says that hard work and caring is part of Gorima’s culture. “Actually, I’d take it further than ‘caring’ and use the word ‘empowerment’. Aunty K was given a leg up, and we understand how important it is to give others a leg up.” Soon after opening their first outlet, the Malls ran out of funds. They approached their suppliers to ask for credit. Spice Emporium’s Vinod Harie swiftly agreed, thereby saving Gorima’s from a desperate situation. Mrs M is quoted as saying, “This was a turning point in my life. If this man – a complete stranger – trusted me, then I too, would do the same for others.” Today, Gorima’s supports between 50 and 60 home industry operators who

FOOD

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

LESSONS LEARNT Arshad Moola says every challenge brings a lesson. “We opened in Gateway shopping centre and initially it was a ghost town. We had to improvise, and thought, ‘Who is catering to the hundreds of employees in the Gateway shops?’ We had a supplier providing us with 10 dozen samoosas a day, but these would be finished by 11am. Aunty said, ‘Get a hot plate and a fryer and use our frozen stock of samoosa’. Business boomed. The lesson? Adjust your offerings to the demand. When the demographics changed at the Workshop a lot of old customers moved to the Musgrave and La Lucia stores. That was no problem for Aunty. As she said, we were still teaching non-Indians to cook a decent curry. It was great for my late granny who spoke only Guajarati and Zulu. These days, huge queues form outside Gorima’s three days before Christmas. The customers are mostly African people lining up to buy lentils, rice and masala for biryani, because that is the preferred Christmas lunch. The lesson? Keep in touch with your customer base.”

supply products, ranging from biscuits to pies to savouries, out of their own kitchens. These micro businesses employ two or three people themselves, “so that’s at least another 150 people who are earning a living through Gorima’s,” says Moola. Anyone opening a store during 2020 – a year of lockdowns and Covid-19 – needed nerves of steel. Gorima’s opened a branch in Windermere Centre in September 2020, but, says Moola, they were not particularly nervous. “We had been advised that if you keep stores five kilometres apart you would be fine. We also have a business strategy not to

ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: FEROZ KHAN, YUNUS MOOLA AND ARSHAD MOOLA. IN THE FRONT IS KHATIJA MALL, THE FOUNDER OF GORIMA’S.

spend a lot on advertising but rather spend on location – you will always find us next to an anchor tenant in a shopping centre.” It’s not the first time the Gorima’s team has shown it can take the heat. Opening in Chatsworth, surrounded by spice stores, was risky. “The Blue Ocean, Red Ocean strategy says it’s better to set up in a blue ocean, far from competition. If you set up close to competitors there will be blood in the water – a red ocean,” explains Moola. “We went against the grain but Gorima’s good name and reasonable prices has made

the store a winner.” Innovation is also at the core of Gorima’s culture. “When Aunty first began a customer might ask ‘where is the pickle?’ Aunty would go home and make some herself and then look for a supplier,” explains Moola, adding that stock is adjusted to fit the location and respond to different food trends. “We stocked Indonesian shrimp chips in the 80s, and Thai products like lime leaves and sticky rice in the 90s.” Over the last 10 years, he says, they have noticed a shift to convenience, especially during holidays

like Eid and Diwali, where people tend to buy biscuits and sweetmeats rather than bake at home. “We believe our competitors are business people selling food, whereas we are food people in business.” Going forward, Gorima’s is looking to move further afield and open branches in major centres around the country. The brand is on the up, but what is the greatest challenge it faces? “We are becoming more corporate, and although we are scaling up, I’m determined to retain our commitment to empower and care for others. As Muslims, our first priority is to help humanity. Gorima’s will never lose that.”

BUY LOCAL INVEST LOCAL Let’s come together and heal as a nation. Let’s focus on renewing, restoring and rebuilding successful partnerships and investment opportunities so we can get back to promoting our city as the ideal destination for business and pleasure to the rest of the world. Your support coupled with our world-class infrastructure, innovative business environment and ever evolving investment opportunities, means we can get back to ‘connecting continents’ in no time.

Tel: +27 31 311 4227 Email: invest@durban.gov.za web: invest.durban

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The city of Durban (eThekwini Municipality) is South Africa’s second most important economic region

Extensive first-world road, rail, sea and air

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Dube TradePort and King Shaka International Airport - 60year Master Plan - driving growth of aerotropolis, or airport city

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Rated in top 5 ‘Quality of Living’ cities in Africa and Middle East by Mercer Consulting in 2015

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Issue 12

MARCH 2021

P R O P E RT Y

The slick new 11-storey apartment block with office and retail space in Florida Road has given one of Durban’s key nodes a welcome shot in the arm

he development – 2SIX2 – on the corner of Florida and Lambert Roads is 70% complete and 90% sold out, with the first residents taking occupation before June. Property owner and developer of 2SIX2 Rob Goulden of RG Management says a premium has been put on convenience and efficient use of space in the development, one of the first sizeable residential projects of its kind in Morningside. It promises a significant value add to the neighbourhood’s offering that has been given great lustre by the Urban Lime purchase and redevelopment of key blocks in recent years. Urban Lime and other property owners in Florida Road have added hugely to the vibrancy of the area and have worked with the municipality to significantly clean, green and secure the neighbourhood.

Berea gem promises to SPARKLE

2SIX2 is at floor eight and has largely taken shape, and aerial photos of the project show great sea and city views. Gough Cooper’s Jacques Klynsmith who is working with Goulden says there are 51 apartments, including 44m² onebedroomed units (mostly facing Florida Road). There are also two- and threebedroom units and two penthouses. Many of the units have private gardens and covered balconies and there is a

“This part of the Berea is sought after. It has an authentic feel about it because of the old buildings, the history and the infrastructure, like schools”

rooftop pool and gym for residents. Every apartment is fitted out with a SMEG oven-hob and extractor, porcelain tiles, modern kitchens and Grohe sanitaryware, while the building will have biometric access control. Prices fetched are upwards of R32 000/m², which is only a few thousand rand less than what early investors paid at The Arch in uMhlanga. The residential tower at 2SIX2 sits

P R O P E RT Y

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

atop two floors of offices and a 2 000m² retail and restaurant complex, and will include anchor tenants Pick n Pay and steakhouse Butcher Boys. Klynsmith says the development of the Florida Road property is in conjunction with Indlovu Construction. “We have gone for modern, sleek lines in an area where a mixed-use development like this will be prized. This part of the Berea is sought after. It has an authentic feel about it because of the old buildings, the history and the infrastructure, like schools.” The development is a stone’s throw from Clifton School. Klynsmith says many buyers are investors interested in the area because of its easy proximity to the sports precinct around Moses Mabhida Stadium. They were especially encouraged by the prospect of leasing to sportsmen, mainly rugby players now that the Sharks had received a

Many buyers are investors interested in the area because of its easy proximity to the sports precinct around Moses Mabhida Stadium huge overseas investment. Another key factor was the success of the Urban Improvement Precinct in Florida Road, established in October 2013. It involves 65 commercial property owners paying more than R3-million a year to the UIP, in addition to the rates they pay council. In return they get access to a local UIP manager, a staff of 19, and the support of UrbanMGT’s management, which runs other successful UIPs in uMhlanga and elsewhere. Since the UIP was established in Florida Road there have been substantial redevelopments and upgrades that have brought massive new investment and confidence to the area. Klynsmith and his father, Gert, who passed away late last year, have a history of successful developments in Knysna, Ballito, Montclair, Kloof, and uMhlanga, adding that the next Gough Cooper development will be a 15-unit beachfront site in Ballito.

FROM LEFT: CAMERON NELSON AND JACQUES KLYNSMITH OUTSIDE 2SIX2 FLORIDA ROAD.

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

R E TA I L

High Street BUSTLES With the opening of the Bard & Minstrel, a high-end coffee shop and retailer of luxurious coffee table books, uMhlanga Arch’s quirky retail high street is now fully tenanted, writes Shirley le Guern

PICTURES SHIRLEY LE GUERN

he developers set out to create a cobblestoned, exclusive retail high street reminiscent of old European cities within a contrasting modern-day office, residential and hospitality cluster. Each retailer had to have a unique offering and outlets had to be carefully curated. Mission accomplished – even though it is a tough time to launch a bespoke shopping experience, let alone new businesses. Renzo Scribante, a partner in the Bard & Minstrel who has 15 years RIGHT: RENZO SCRIBANTE, A PARTNER IN THE BARD & MINSTREL COFFEE SHOP, DONS HIS WHITE GLOVES TO PAGE THROUGH ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ASSOULINE COFFEE TABLE BOOKS ON DISPLAY.

R E TA I L

hospitality experience, has also been closely involved in developing the overall retail space along with the developers, as well as The Pencil Club, an exclusive membership club at the top of The Arch’s residential block. He dons white gloves to show off beautiful coffee table books dedicated to iconic brands such as Channel, Tom Rolex and Yves St Laurent. His new venture, which is a perfect fit with the ambience of The Arch’s High Street, is all-buttoned leather couches, books and bold pictures of great musicians of yesteryear. He was thrilled when some of his first customers said it felt as if they had stepped into a little store in London. But he has no illusions about this being easy. “We had pulled the trigger to do something six months ago and thought that, by the time we opened, all would be fine. That’s not the case. The developers have been great, but one can’t put one’s head in the sand. You

have got to reinvent yourself, remain positive and optimistic and look at doing business in a different way. Not everyone is sick. People still want nice things and now, more than ever, want interaction and to go out for a cup of coffee and meet friends. We just need to create the right safe environment.” His closest neighbour, Ballihoo, which pairs fine wines and floristry, is excited about the new opening as the two businesses have a number of opportunities for future collaboration, including wine tastings and special events around the outside fountain – just as soon as the alcohol ban is lifted. Until then, it is all about patience for founders Teraza Blair, Terianne Ninow and Kim Roberts who have had the ABOVE: TERIANNE NINOW (LEFT) AND KIM ROBERTS, OWNERS OF BALLIHOO, WHICH PAIRS FINE WINES AND FLORISTRY. BELOW: MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TEAM, DEE AND MORGAN GOTZ, ARE THE FACES BEHIND HOLIDAY HARBOUR BAY WHICH ENCAPSULATES A FUN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE.

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

luxury of only a week of full trading since opening. Their involvement stems from their original decor business which saw them working on apartments at The Arch. Blair says Ballihoo means to praise or publicise extravagantly and is the perfect moniker for a business that stands for lavish gifting. Included in their product offering is glassware, candles, ceramics and homeware. Most are sourced locally. Another neighbour, Holiday Harbour Bay, was one of the very first to open at The Arch in October 2020. Run by the mother and daughter team, Dee and Morgan Gotz, the business started in Knysna in 1994. Today, there are two shops in Plettenberg Bay, one in Ballito and this latest one in uMhlanga. The shop encapsulates a fun, holiday experience with bright beachy clothing, basketry and dashes of homeware in tune with The Arch’s concept of owner managed spaces. The brand “is all about us being involved and in our stores,” says Morgan Gotz. “Things have been up and down. But there is nothing more we can do but be patient and wait for Covid to pass,” she said. The same goes for other retailers that make up this rather eclectic High Street mix – including Cliff and Nicci Line’s ONE.mind.body.soul which is the retail arm of the couple’s wellness business and sells high-end fashion as well as homeware and stationery; The Moustache Barber Shop; Empiro, a luxury menswear outfitter; and The Gentry, purveyors of fine gentlemen’s goods. Head designer and owner of bespoke fine jewellery brand, Mark Gold, says that establishing a second outlet at The Arch was a perfect fit as he wished to create a destination store that was much like his outlet in Morningside. Spurred by Covid, shopping patterns are changing with people moving away from more traditional regional malls and gravitating towards smaller, more personalised spaces. As his now 30-year-old business has crafted bespoke jewellery across the lifetime of individual clients, he is less concerned with the immediate impact of the pandemic. “We’re here for the long-term. We are building relationships that create lifetime purchasers and I want my clients to return,” he explains.

Issue 12

MARCH 2021

FOOD

Keeping up with LEE JONES

You’ve been with 9th Avenue for five years. How did it all begin, and how did you first get involved? Chef/owners Graham and Gina Neilson were regulars at the restaurant I worked at previously, and I applied for a job at 9th Avenue not knowing they were the owners. It was a nice moment when we recognised each other. I waitered for six months and then moved into management. What is the ethos of 9th Avenue? The original owner, Carly Goncalves, set the tone when he opened in 2001 – uncompromising standard of food and service, aligning with local suppliers, using best quality produce, and looking after your staff. Gina drummed that into my head from day one. What is the secret of the restaurant’s success? 9th Avenue is a comfortable place. At the old location we overlooked a parking lot which may have been an eyesore, but the moment you walked into the restaurant, you felt at home. It has always under-assumed and overdelivered. Head chef Wesley Aucamp and I are likeminded. Our motto is “accommodate, feed and educate”. People are our guests, not customers. We are looking after them in our home, introducing them

Lee Jones is the GM of Durban’s beloved restaurant, 9th Avenue Waterside. Shelley Seid spoke to him about guests, Gordon Ramsay, and the best seafood platter in town

Q A

It was nerve-racking having invested so much and having no clue what to expect. We used the time to plan and re-evaluate how we operated. We ran a soup kitchen, delivering food to different campsites. It gave staff a little extra income apart from their UIF. Graham also sold tickets to braai classes for after lockdown. The support from our regulars was amazing. People put far more than the cost of the tickets into the account. Some old regulars who were living overseas “bought” tickets. It was really heartwarming. How would you describe your local clients? One thing Durban people know is flavour. They are not pretentious and they are loyal. As soon as they feel comfortable in a place they will stick with it. Durban people also want a decent portion. Our overseas guests are amazed that a confit chicken comes with a breast and a leg, whereas overseas you’d probably get half a breast and a lentil. What’s your favourite thing on the menu? There are items still on offer from the original menu from 2001, for example our gorgonzola, pear and pecan salad and our butternut ravioli. They are so popular we wouldn’t dare remove them. However, I must say the seafood platter is my choice. It is, without doubt, the best you’ll find in Durban.

Q A

to new taste experiences and going the extra mile to ensure their satisfaction. I believe your move to new premises at the Durban Yacht Mole was so successful that you had to turn away a celebrity chef due to lack of space? I’ll never live it down. Gordon Ramsay was in Durban and phoned from the Marine Parade to see if he could pop in for lunch. He didn’t identify himself, and he didn’t get his PA to phone.

ABOVE: LEE JONES, GM OF 9TH AVENUE, KNOWS WHAT DURBAN GUESTS WANT WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD FOOD. PICTURE: JONO NIENABER, PURE STUDIO

We were fully booked but had we known it was him we would have made a plan. Apparently he ended up at Surf Riders Cafe. Seven months after opening at your new location the country went into lockdown. How was that for you and the team?

Q A

FINA.NCE, ACCOUNTING & TAX